Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Heads to Auction Block Again

A Malibu estate home to the Malibu Rocky Oaks vineyard is on the auction block.

The property, which spans nearly 38 acres, could go to a buyer at a $21 million reserve price, Realtor.com reported. The estate includes 5 acres of vineyards where the Malibu Rocky Oaks wine brand grows 10 grape varietals for red, white and rosé offerings.

Malibu Rocky Oaks was founded in 2003 by Howard Leight Sr. His son Howard Leight Jr. now runs the business. The Leights bought the property in 2005 for $3.5 million, per Realtor.com.

In the more than two decades since then, new local laws have prevented the opening of new wineries in the area, making the Rocky Oaks property that much more of a rare purchase. The sale would include the estate’s grapes and irrigation sales, though a new owner wouldn’t get ownership of the Malibu Rocky Oaks brand.

The family has been trying to sell the property since 2012 when it first hit the market for $43 million. The property went on and off the market several times after that and was even available for rent. It was last listed in 2022 for $49.5 million.

The estate’s Tuscan-style main house, built in 2009, sits on a hilltop and comes complete with a stone exterior and red tile roof, both essential in creating a natural fire resistance.

The 7,665-square-foot manse boasts classic Italian-inspired touches like stone fireplaces, wrought-iron balustrades and beamed ceilings as well as contemporary features like tall ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. It contains five bedrooms and five bathrooms, including a primary suite with its own fireplace and private terrace.

A rooftop terrace tops off the house, while a deck wraps around much of the exterior. Elsewhere outside, the home has an infinity-edge pool with a hot tub. Reality TV fans might recognize the property from “The Bachelorette” and “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”

“This is a one-of-a-kind property in which modern approvals for an estate of this scale and location would be next to impossible,” Chris Cortazzo of Compass, who is helping handle the sale, said in a statement, per Realtor.com.

The online auction for the home is now open and ends Oct. 30, barring the seller accepting a bid before the deadline.

— Chris Malone Méndez